Many refer to August as the dog days of Summer, but as we enter these last few days of summer and are rapidly approaching Autumn, one flower is able to perfectly transition from the saturated hues of Summer to the more Autumnal tones and that is the Sunflower. In the language of flowers, sunflowers symbolize adoration, loyalty, and longevity. These cheerful flowers have certainly demonstrated staying power as they've traveled from the Americas to the rest of the world.
Native to the Americas, they were an essential crop for indigenous peoples. There is even evidence that sunflowers may have been domesticated before corn! Although uses for sunflowers varied from tribe to tribe, the seeds were commonly ground into flour or cracked and eaten as-is. Seeds were also squeezed for oil, which was then used in baking. Dried flower stalks were used as a building material, and parts of the plant were used medicinally.
Soon after their arrival in the Americas, Spanish explorers brought the sunflower back to Europe where it soon became a coveted exotic ornamental plant. In the 1700s, however, sunflowers were increasingly grown for their edible seeds and the oil they contained. Sunflower oil production especially exploded in Russia, where significant research took place to increase oil yield. These improved Russian sunflower seeds made their way to the United States in the late 1800s. Many U.S. farmers, including my family, began growing sunflowers first for poultry feed and then, in the early 1900s, turned to processing the seeds for oil.
Sunflower oil and seeds may be agricultural staples, but the cheerful blooms are staples of summery gardens and bouquets, as well as a being a great addition to autumnal displays. Give us a call today, send out a beautiful bouquet of Sunflowers or just a few tucked into a bouquet for that perfect burst of color.
